UK households are being urged to vacuum their mattress and wash bed sheets every week to help protect against some nasty symptoms.

The UK is currently basking in warmer temperatures now that spring is here, but the arrival of spring coincides with the beginning of hay fever season in the UK, which typically begins around late March and lasts until September. Tree pollen occurs first and usually lasts until around mid-May, after which grass pollen is released until July, followed by weed pollen until September.

As the UK had a relatively mild winter followed by more recent fine, warm weather, the Met Office says this has created the perfect weather conditions for pollen production and release. If you’re one of the unlucky people who suffer from hay fever, then the chances are you’ll have noticed some symptoms already.

Itchy eyes, runny nose, sneezing, swollen eyes and headaches are among the most common symptoms, and these can become particularly rife at night, resulting in a disrupted night’s sleep.

To combat this, experts at MattressOnline are urging hay fever sufferers to vacuum their mattress and wash their bed sheets every single week to help remove traces of pollen.

The experts say: “You should vacuum your mattress weekly to make sure that absolutely no trace of allergens are left to haunt your dreams. And don’t forget to flip it to clean both sides.

“Those battling hay fever should also wash their bedding once a week, giving special attention to pillow covers during this time of the year.

“Consider purchasing an anti-allergy mattress and pillow protector if you haven’t already, and make sure to wash them every one or two weeks with the rest of your bedding. This will ensure that any residual pollen on the mattress and the pillows won’t be able to reach your bedsheets, improving your sleep quality significantly.”

Pollen can cling to your clothes, skin and hair when you’ve been outside and if you don’t shower and change when you go back indoors, this can then spread the pollen around your home and make your symptoms worse.

If you’ve been outdoors and you don’t wash your hair, then when you lay down on your pillow at night you’re effectively transferring the pollen into your bedding which could trigger symptoms like a runny nose, itchy eyes and sneezing, making it more difficult to sleep.

The experts add: “Spending time outside in the glorious sun can also come with the risk of pollen getting stuck to your hair and, as such, your pillowcase. The best way to avoid opening your bedroom door to pollen is to wash that pollen from your hair with shampoo every evening.”